Climate

Italy stretches from Mont Blanc, in the Alps mountain range, in the
north, past the Dolomites mountain range, with the Adriatic Sea to
the east, to the Mediterranean Sea in the south — this wide
range of causes the weather to vary considerably, and Italy's climate
varies from the cold in the northerly mountainous region to hot and
dry in the hills and plains of the south. Local variations depend
on altitude and distance from the sea.

The country's overall temperate climate is due
to the protection by the mountain ranges from the cold winds from
the north — although the temperatures in the north can still
drop below zero centigrade. Towards the centre the fog is a constant
factor in winter,
while the winters are mild in the south.

In the mountains temperatures drop quickly, winters
in the north are much colder with a January average temperature
of -8oC for alpine ski
resorts.

In much of Italy temperatures average 24oC all
summer and heavy thunderstorms bring the only summer rain which
evaporates rapidly.

In summer, the hot weather from Africa moves north to the whole
country, carried by the Scirocco, Africa's hot dry wind but surrounded
by warm seas and with mountains close by, the coast always has a
breeze.

Mountain areas are cooler with clear sunny skies.
Hot air rising from the coasts brings thunderstorms to the mountain
areas, which experience the greatest change from summer to winter
especially in the valleys of Tuscany
and Umbria.